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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Dishwasher in the US? (2026)

A dishwasher draws heavy power only while heating water and during the drying phase. Over a full cycle it averages 1 to 2 kWh, which is usually cheaper than washing the same dishes by hand with hot water.

A typical dishwasher (1,500 W) costs $0.27 per hour, or about $8.10 per month at 1 hours a day in United States (average). Average running cost

Electricity price region Hours used per day

Wattage	Per hour	Per day	Per month	Per year
Low (1,200 W)	$0.22	$0.22	$6.48	$78.84
Typical (1,500 W)	$0.27	$0.27	$8.10	$98.55
High (2,400 W)	$0.43	$0.43	$12.96	$157.68

Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 1 h/day ≈ 548 kWh per year.

In the US, with electricity at $0.18 per kWh (source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, 2026-06), a typical dishwasher costs $0.27 per hour and about $98.55 per year at 1 hours a day. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 3.7 hours of use.

How to lower the cost of running a dishwasher

Skip the heated dry option and open the door at the end of the cycle instead.
Only run full loads, and use the eco program.
Scrape plates but do not pre-rinse under hot water.
Connect to cold water if your dishwasher has its own heater and your hot water is electric.

In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh ($1.58) per year if it is never unplugged.

Frequently asked questions

Is a dishwasher cheaper than washing by hand?

Usually yes, if you run full loads. Hand washing with running hot water uses more energy and far more water.

How much does a dishwasher cycle cost?

About 1 to 1.5 kWh per cycle on a normal program. Use the hourly figure above as a per-cycle estimate.

What uses the most power in a dishwasher?

The water heating element, followed by the heated drying cycle.

Compare with

Dishwasher vs Washing Machine

Cost by region

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